With branches scattered across the country, the Italian state archives serve a dual purpose: safeguarding the country's cultural past and its juridical memory.

The culture ministry allocates just over 1% of its budget to the archives. Because of the recession, even this puny amount was cut, causing Modena's tiny records office to close down and others, such as Como's to get behind with their rent.

A 70% reduction in funding at the Rome office is of particular concern. Built in 1500, it has housed Sapienza University for more than 500 years.

It also holds 1.5m papyrus items, 800,000 antique maps, 35m original drawings, files belonging to the Ming dynasty, a letting agreement belonging to Caravaggio, and former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro's letters written while he was in the hands of the Red Brigades.